How to Use SYSTRANS

Load Source from a PC to the Mainframe

By Dieter W. Storr

Problem Description

I received Natural source code, which was recorded on a German PC in lower-case letters and then unloaded by using SYSTRANS.

I ftp'ed it, translated the code from ASCII to EBCDIC, and saved it on a dataset (LRECL=96) on the mainframe.

Then, I used SYSTRANS to load all source code into a new Natural 4.1.3 library. So far so good.

The problem began when I did a CATALL. Some programs failed with error codes that are not understandable. A manual check and catalog received sometimes the same error code and the other time it cataloged OK. But at execution time it failed again. Even the CAT was OK.

Sometimes, when you read this code into the editor, it is in lower case. After you hit the enter-key, it is translated into upper-case letters.

Explanation

SYSTRANS loaded the source into FUSER in lower-case letters because the option "Translate Sources to Upper Case" was set to "N". The source was still in lower case, when loaded into the editor. Also the compilation option "(LOWSRCE) Allow Lower Case Source" was set to "OFF" and the code was translated and displayed in upper-case letters. So CHECK and CAT experienced different results.

Solution

The solution is to use the load option "Translate Sources to Upper Case .. Y" when SYSTRANS it to Natural on the mainframe. See example (3rd parameter).